Mayo got the Kevin McStay era off to the perfect start this afternoon, defeating Galway on a scoreline of 0-14 to 0-11 in the NFL Division 1 final at Croke Park.
The timing of the game was hardly ideal for either side, with both counties set to get their provincial championship campaigns underway next week. Despite this, they managed to produce an enthralling clash at GAA HQ.
Both sides produced some good football at times, and while both defences will have been largely happy with their performances, Mayo were asked to call upon their goalkeeper on a couple of occasions in the second half.
The first top class stop from Colm Reape came in the 55th minute, producing brilliant reaction save to deny Damien Comer.
#MAYVGAL 54 nóim @MayoGAA 0-11@Galway_GAA 0-09
Sábháil iontach ó Colm Reape do Mhaigh Eo 🏐😱
Amazing save for @MayoGAA ❗️
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV #AllianzLeague | #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/VBJ6njEQdk— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 2, 2023
He came up big once again in the final moments, producing another brilliant save to maintain Mayo's four-point advantage. That proved to be key, with his team winning by a three-point margin.
It was a top class performance from the goalkeeper, who only joined the panel for the first time this year.
However, there was some debate as to whether he should have been on the pitch during this crucial period in the game.
Padraic Joyce unhappy over Mayo-Galway red card decision
The 26-year old could well have been sent off for a clash with Johnny Heaney in the first half, completely taking out the Galway forward as he made his way through on goal. A yellow card was handed out by the referee, with the Galway player forced off due to injury soon after.
Odd decision re Colm Reape’s challenge from the ref. If the ref decides that it was intentional, which he did because he gave him a yellow card, does it not merit more than a yellow card? Or is the ref hedging it, as not 100% sure it was intentional. #GalwayMayo #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/5BC8Ua14Pk
— Paul O’Kane (@pmokane) April 2, 2023
It was certainly one of those calls that could have went either way, with red cards having been handed out for similar incidents in the past.
Speaking to TG4 after the game, Galway manager Padraic Joyce seemed unhappy about some of the decisions that went against his side in the game. When questioned on the yellow card for Reape, he hinted that he felt the punishment should have been a more severe one.
#MAYVGAL@MayoGAA 0-14@Galway_GAA 0-11
Labhair Micheál Ó Domhnaill le Pádraig Joyce, seo cad a bhí le rá aige 👇
"Overall we are very happy with the league."
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV #AllianzLeague | #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/QoO4ahrlIx— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) April 2, 2023
We gave Mayo a big start in the game, we were 0-6 to 0-1 down. As poorly as we played in the first half, we went in at halftime only a kick of the ball down which wasn't bad.
I think Mayo scored 0-10 of their 0-14 from frees and marks. That was disappointing and a few of them were very questionable frees to be honest.
Our lads stuck at it but we could never get back level in the game. When the Mayo goalkeeper is getting man-of-the-match, that will tell its own story. He made three or four what you could call good saves, but we would say they were bad misses by us.
Congratulations to Mayo, they were the better team on the day so no complaints...
Johnny [Heaney] got to the ball and then he was taken out (by Reape), so look it, your read on it is as good as mine.
He took him out for a goal chance, you know.
This certainly would have been a massive turning point in the game. Not only would Mayo have been down to 14 men for a huge portion of the contest, but they also would have been without the player that ultimately had a huge say in deciding the result.
While Kevin McStay's side deserved the victory in the end, they can perhaps count themselves a tad fortunate that they kept their full compliment of players on the field.
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